Radio Smart Talk: Local super utilizers

Transforming Health
| 06.05.13

Super utilizers are 5% of the patients who account for more than half of all healthcare costs.

One medical professional said, "This is something we should have thought of and done years ago."

There are many others across the country who would agree about programs designed to treat "super utilizer" patients.

Super utilizers are 5% of the patients who account for more than half of all healthcare costs.

How can that happen? Certainly lifestyle choices, especially bad ones, can contribute to poor health and multiple illnesses or conditions. However, there are some patients who the system fails.

Miscommunication between medical providers can lead to repetitive or conflicting treatments.

Often, super utilizers don't have a family physician so they end up going to the hospital emergency room, which is more costly and there isn't as much follow up.

Dr. Jeffrey Brenner, a pioneer in the field who developed a super utilizer program in Camden, New Jersey, appeared on Radio Smart Talk last month to explain how it all got started. Listen to that show here.

On Wednesday's program, we'll learn about local super utilizer programs.